The Common Warthog is listed as Listed Concern as it is widespread, often locally abundant, has a high reproductive rate, and is expanding its geographic range in South Africa (Nyafu 2009, Cumming 2013, Swanepoel et al. 2015). Nonetheless, most populations seem to be in decline over much of the geographic range (De Jong and Butynski 2014, Butynski and De Jong in prep).

The Common Warthog is widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa, occurring in scattered populations in West Africa eastwards to Eritrea and Ethiopia, southward through eastern Africa, and over much of southern Africa to southern Angola, Botswana, and Mozambique to northeast South Africa. Historically, the common warthog was not present in the arid Karoo of South Africa where the extinct Cape (desert) warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus was present (Cumming 2013). Expansion of the Sahel-zone has resulted in a marked contraction in the range of the common warthog since at least the early 1980s. J. Newby (pers. comm. in Vercammen and Mason 1993) reported the extinction of the species in Niger but then notes their persistence in south-central Aïr Mts., Niger. (J. Newby pers. comm. in Cumming 2013). In addition, P. africanus were photographed in 2014 in W National Park, southwest Niger (C.T. Hash pers. comm.).

The common warthog is expanding its geographic range in South Africa (Nyafu 2009).

Sympatric with the Somali (desert) warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus delamerei) in north Somalia, and central, east, and southeast Kenya (De Jong and Butynski 2014, De Jong et al. in prep.).

The overall number of Common Warthog in South Africa is currently estimated to be at least 22,250 (Swanepoel et al. 2016). Current estimates of numbers in other southern African countries are not available. In Eastern Africa, absent, or at very low densities, in large areas but can be locally abundant where hunting is uncommon and livestock densities are low (De Jong and Butynski 2014, T. Butynski and Y. de Jong pers. obs.). Most populations seem to be in decline over much of the geographic range (De Jong and Butynski 2014, Butynski and De Jong in prep.).

Typical densities range from 1-10 animals/km² in protected areas (Cumming 2013), but local densities of 77 animals/km² on short grass in Nakuru National Park, central Kenya (Radke 1991).

Dependent on perennial surface water at some sites (Estes 1999, Meijaard et al 2011, Cumming 2013), but drinking water not essential at other sites (Dorst and Dandelot 1970, Skinner and Smithers 1990, De Jong and Butynski 2014, Butynski and De Jong in prep.). In north Kenya, low densities of common warthog occur in sub-desert where drinking water is absent for several months of the year (De Jong and Butynski 2014).

Generally diurnal but sometimes active at night in West Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe (Cumming 1975, De Jong and Butynski 2014). This is likely an adaptation to avoid the hottest hours of the day, humans and other diurnal predators, and competition for water and food (De Jong and Butynski 2014).

Major natural causes of mortality are climatic extremes (including droughts), disease (including rinderpest), and predation (Vercammen and Mason 1993, Somers 1997, Butynski and De Jong in prep.). Desertification has caused a decline in parts of the Sahel (Vercammen and Mason 1993). The main threats in eastern Africa are human-caused habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation, and competition with livestock for water and food (De Jong and Butynski 2014). Hunted for entertainment, bush meat, skins, tusks (only the upper tusks are considered for trophy), as bait for hunting large carnivores, in response to crop raiding, to reduce grazing pressure, and in eradication programs (De Tray 1957, Mason 1985, Vercammen and Mason 1993, Grubb et al 1998, Deribe et al 2008, Cumming 2013, De Jong and Butynski 2014, Butynski and De Jong in prep.).

In the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Common Warthog are a ‘nuisance’ animal as a result of introduction programmes (Skead 2007, Nyafu 2009).

Corrected the title used in the reference Butynski, T.M. and De Jong, Y.A. In prep. Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). In: M. Melletti and E. Meijaard (eds), Ecology, Evolution and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries. Implications for Conservation. So that it now correctly reads: Butynski, T.M. and De Jong, Y.A. In prep. Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). In: M. Melletti and E. Meijaard (eds), Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries. Cambridge University Press.

De Jong, Y.A., d'Huart, J.P. and Butynski, T.M. in prep.. Biogeography of the desert warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus (Pallas, 1766) and common warthog Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin, 1788) in the Horn of Africa and Kenya.

Deribe, E., Bekele, A., and Balakrishnan, M. 2008. Population status and diurnal activity patterns of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. . International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 34: 91-97.

Künzel, T., Rayaleh, H.A. and Künzel, S. 2000. Status Assessment Survey on Wildlife in Djibouti. Final Report. Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (Z.S.C.S.P.) and Office National du Tourisme et de l’Artisanat (O.N.T.A.).